Mini bivy for Alaska

Check out Arron's unsupported JMT attempt gear …..

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/5734/index.html?skip_to_post=41254#41254

Also …. Check out Bill Forshell's cuben/pertex bivy and Cuben poncho tarp. He did a sub 2 lb hike not to long ago I believe.

So long as the tarp isn't depended on as a primary shelter, I'd think it would work fine. I grew up in SE Alaska, and at least once a year the winds would hit up to 150 mph, though not very often in spring/summer. I'd hate to see what the weather could do further north or at high elevations; I don't know where your friend's race will be. That place is large enough to encompass 3 or 4 different climate regions. I think a bivy would work fine, and unless the trip is going to be during summer, I don't think I'd trust a 3-season shelter for extended trips. A 4-season rating is called for in that case.

Oh, and I usually like potatoes, salmon berries, or dried salmon to go with fish oil. You have to go pretty far north to find people who use whale or seal oil.

One more tip: For Southern-Southeast Alaska during 3 seasons, my rule of thumb is to figure that it's about 10 F colder and twice as wet as the Northwest lower 48. I don't know how much that helps. I usually err on the side of preparedness whenever planning a trip up there.

Unfortunately I have typed bivy rather than tarp and stuffed up the whole thread.
It is the first 350 miles of the Iditarod race, Knik Lake to McGrath (10 days max allowed) but done on bicycle, hence the added difficulty in finding the right gear. (Feb 22 start !!!)
Not my cup of tea but that is what Yaki wants to do.
The general idea is to do cycle for 10 miles or so, stop for fuel (hot drink..and fat) start again. Sleep every few hours for 2-4 hours, start again. So the primary shelter will be the bivy. The tarp was just my idea that maybe for 5-8 oz you could get a wind shield to use to prepare some food and drinks before sliding inside the bivy and maybe shove it under the bivy for some extra insulation.. Something like the one in this link
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/5278 but somehow using the bike frame to keep it up (even temporarily)
Yaki does have a strong stomach but don't know as yet what kind of fat he can digest….so any high calories food that can be obtained there will be considered. He is in contact with the race organizer but the more options available the easier will be to come up with a working kit.

Fish oil sounds like my "olive oil" replacement for those conditions. ( I use olive oil with pasta/rice/cous cous/hot chocolate)
Last night I was watching native Alaskans(on TV) preparing a traditional dessert with berries/cream/fish oil and something else . I gained 2 pounds looking at it.
Any brand of dried potatoes that is palatable ?
Dried fish also sounds like a good protein source.
Maybe some will be just freeze dried food with added fat and proteins.

Drop offs allowed at finger Lake (110 miles)
Rohn 210 miles
and Cripple (?) Love that name
aprox 3 days in-between each, 10lbs total. So not much to play with….
Franco

I love this picture from the Iditarod Trail Invitational:

http://www.alaskaultrasport.com/latest_news.html

I'd give that friend a present of chocolate-covered espresso beans.

If you google gear lists of Iditarod Invitational there are some interesting blogs with suggestions:

ie.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/bryantpark/2008/01/down_time_snow_cyclist_seeks_s.html

Ricky Reifenstuhl comments on the
Vapor Barrier Clothing he wore in this race. Last years weather was almost a killer.

Cat, I am starting to find specific info but had not seen that blog. Great.
Hard to get better first hand experience than that…

Bill
Thank you very much for that link. I have been thinking of vapor barrier as the lightest/smallest volume clothing solution but I am only familiar with the Stephenson's type stuff (and yours). Your link sets me in the right direction. Will pass all of this on.

Thank you both and John, but if you think of something else, please let me know. There is time for testing as our winter is about to start. Not that we get -30c here…
I think the right stove/fuel and food will be a tough choice .
Franco
"Lasts years weather was almost a killer " , for me make that "every year the weather is a killer there…"

…

Thanks. I have discovered that at least some meals are consumed inside the cabins, so that makes it a bit easier. However it appears that a main problem remains "wanting" to eat, particularly at those in-between cabin rest stops.. If melted ice cream works for Steve, than the trick will be to find something like that that works for Yaki. I guess that for the 6-8 days a balanced diet is not as important as ingesting lots of calories. We briefly discussed the CamelBak under clothing bit, not sure about that as yet. I see if I can find what insulation Steve is using for the CamelBak.
Franco
Can't decide who is crazier, the musher,the runner or the cyclist.